What does Esri's JavaScript 3.x API retirement announcement mean for Geocortex?

Esri recently released a blog post announcing the retirement of the JavaScript 3.x API.
https://www.esri.com/arcgis-blog/products/js-api-arcgis/developers/arcgis-api-for-javascript-version-3-x-retirement/

What does this mean for Geocortex Essentials and the Geocortex Viewer for HTML5?
When should you stop using the Esri JavaScript 3.x?

SUMMARY:

• On July 1, 2024 the Esri JavaScript 3.x API is officially retired.
• Geocortex Essentials (GE) and the Geocortex Viewer for HTML5 (GVH) will continue to operate normally.
• The Esri JavaScript 3.x API is mature and stable and will continue to be available for use.
• VertiGIS will continue to support GE / GVH through 2028.
• There is a genuine risk that future browser updates may cause a degradation or failure in part of Esri’s JavaScript 3.x API; which would result in a degradation or failure in your GE / GVH application (which VertiGIS would be unable to fix).
• Be ready to upgrade your existing GE/GVH apps to VertiGIS Studio apps by mid-2024 so that you can upgrade when you need to do so.

MORE DETAIL:

The API itself is retired as of July 1, 2024.
… but Web AppBuilder will still be using it in ArcGIS Online until Q4 2025.
… and ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 will still be using it until November 2027.
… ArcGIS Enterprise may use it longer if Esri releases another LTS version of ArcGIS Enterprise before mid-2025. “Web AppBuilder will continue to be a part of Enterprise until the first half of 2025, at which point it will be retired and no longer released in new versions of Enterprise.” Which could mean that ArcGIS Enterprise would still be using JavaScript 3.x until 6 years after its release (early-2031).

So which date do we use to speak about GE/GVH?
It is unreasonable to ask customers to stop using GE/GVH by July 1, 2024 when Esri is still supporting Web AppBuilder until Q4 2025 in ArcGIS Online and supporting Web AppBuilder in ArcGIS Enterprise until November 2027.

VertiGIS plans to support GE/GVH through at least April 2028 (5 years from the planned maintenance release in April 2023). 

After July 1, 2024, browser updates could cause degradation or failure in the Esri JavaScript 3.x API that would not be addressed by Esri. That is a risk that everyone is taking by continuing to use Esri's API after its retirement date; but it is a risk that will be shared by Web AppBuilder users through Q4 2025 and ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 customers through November 2027.

It is not clear what Esri would do if a change in the browser ecosystem broke Web AppBuilder apps or an absolutely critical security issue was discovered after the July 1, 2024 retirement date. It is reasonable to assume that Esri would fix it while Web AppBuilder is still part of AGOL through Q4 2025 (though not guaranteed). It is less clear if Esri would fix it in 2026-27 near the end of ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9.1 end of life.

What does this mean for you? Be ready to upgrade your existing GE/GVH apps to VertiGIS Studio apps by mid-2024 so that you can upgrade when you need to do so.

Additionally, some customers operate in environments that do not allow non-supported software. In these cases, your organization may require you to discontinue use of GE/GVH by July 2024.

Meanwhile, we are busy finishing up some of the remaining big features with an eye to having majority functional equivalence by the end of 2023 in VertiGIS Studio Web.

Questions are welcome. We will update this announcement as required to address questions and supply additional information.

Cam Barnard, Product Director VertiGIS Studio
cam.barnard@vertigis.com